The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-10-26
A PENSION swINDLER CAUGHT.
The Extensive Criminal Trade of james II.
McGindley.
Washington Special.

The Extensive Criminal Trade of james ii.
McGindley.
Washington Special.
James II, McGlndley was arrested by
Special Examiner JACOBS, of the Pension
Bureau, on September 80, on q charge of
forgery and other frauds in connection
with pension claims. On the same day he
was brought before Commissioner A. J.
Williams at Cleveland, Ohio, where he
waived hearing. and was sent to jail in
default of SIC, 600 bail. Subsequently the
grand jury of the United States Court for
the Northern District of Ohio, found
against him ten indictments embodying
forty-two independent counts, and he is
now imprisoned awaiting trial.
James II. McGindley was born in the
North of Ireland April 81, 1896. and came
to America with his father, Mannesseh
McGindley, when very young. McGindley
settled in Martin County. Ind. James re-
ceived a collegiate education and was grad
uated with honors in the fall of 1885. and
in December in the same year was admit
ted to the Bar of Martin County, Ind. In
April he was commissioned Justice of the
Peace by Asbel P. Willard, then Governor
of Indiana. He remained in Martin County
until the breaking out of the war, when he
removed to Quincy. Ill, and continued to
practice his profession. In 1864 he began
to prosecute claims against the Govern
ment, making pensions speciality. He
was very successful, and did a large and la.
crstive business, bat be soon began ca
the history of the Pension Bu-
reau. He provided himself
with the records of soldiers who were
killed or died in the service during TIE
war, and, after ascsrtaining that they left
no one surviving entitled to pension. he
would manufacture a bogus widow aud
file claim in her name. He would also
continue to draw the pension of genuine
widow pensioners long after their death.
Many years ago it was discovered that Nc
Gindley was engaged in swindling the
government, and United States officers
were put upon his track, but he managed
to elude them and left Quincy for parts
unknown. Soon after leaving Quincy Nc
Gindley's friends circulated q report that
he had died at New Orleans of yellow
fever, and for a time the report was cred
tied by the government officials. But sub.
sequently il was discovered that McGiudley
was in st. Louis practiclng his old schemes
under the name of L. CARPENTER & Co.
This was in 1880, and steps were taken to
secure his arrest, but before the officers
arrived in st. Louis he had again disep-
peared without leaving. the slightest clue
behind him.
For several months Commissioner Black
has been engaged in verifying the pension
roll, with view of purging it of all pen
sioners not entitled to pensions, and also
of ascertaining whether pensions were be-
ing Illegally drawn In the names of dead
persons, as had been alleged. During the
investigation il was discovered that q
number of widow pensioners were credited
with a residence in Toronto, Canada, who
drew their pensions through the Chicago
Pension Agency. This fact caused him to
look more closely into the matter, when it
was learned that the supposed Canada
widows had at one time been enrolled on
the Quincy, Ill. agency, before the latter
was consolidated with the Chicago agency,
some years ago. 1t was also learned that
the attorney in all the Toronto cases were
none other than the long lost McGindley.
Gen. Black held consultation with
his Chief of Special Examiners, and as
q result Special Examiner Jacobs was
provided with extraditiou papers and dis
patched to Toronto to effect McGindley's
capture and transportation to the United
States From Toronto McGindley was
traced to Cincinnati, and from thence to
Cleveland, where all trace OF MIN was lost
for time. On the 22nd of last month the
Pension Agent at Chicago received two
vouchers for the payment of pc lsions in
the cases of Elizabeth NJ. Geddes and
Catharine O'HarAn. In the case OF sddes
the Pension Agent was directed to send
the check to the Post Office at NeTburg,
Ohio, and in the O'Haran case the check
was ordered sent to Brooklyn Village, o.
The day after these checks had beel
mailed, Examiner Jacobs arrived in Chi
csgo, and upon learning the fact, departed
at once for Newburg, Ohio, where he found
the letter containing the Elizabeth NJ. GeI-
des check at the Post Office. The o Il iran
letter was found at the Brooklyn Village
Z ppckn off rNlo fhaL Dat
/ Office under surveillance, the Special Ek-
| sminer took up his residence in the New.
burg Post Office, awaiting the arrival of
/ Mrs. Geddes, the alleged wTdo " pensiOner.
After waiting five days an old MAJ ap-
/ pearea and presented an order to the post
master, requesting that the mail addressed
| to Ell zabeIh Geddes be delivered to the
bearer, II. B. Mason. In compliance with
! the order the postmaster handed the latter
from the Chicago Pension Agent to 81, B.
/ Mason, who, placing 1t in his pocket,
strolled leisurely away. Just as Mr.. Mason
reached the street he was confronted by
Examiner Jacobs, who addressed him as
/ MIR. McGindley (for such he really proved
10 be-. aud being taken off hisguard he IN
willingly responded to his name. He was
was put under arrest and acknowledged
his identity, and fully confessed his long
career OF crime. Documents found
| on his person disclosed his place
Of residence to be 3l3 Broadway,
Cleveland. The place was found to be a
hotel and saloon. of which McGindley, IN
der the name of II. B. Mason, was the pro
prletor. The place wss searched, and
among the proprietor's effects was found a
bogus notary public SEAL which had BEEN
used in executing pension vouchers and a
mass OF papers which clearly established
the fast of McGindley's wholesalss windles.
Besides the Geddes and O. Harsn cases,
McGindley's papers showed that be had
also been personating widow pensioners
named Huldah Furman, Celia Lewis,
Pauline Schmidt aud Rachel 6csuton. 1t
has also been discovered that McGindley
did not coufne himself to the pension